Unit 4: Wishful Thinking

A. Look at the groups of words. Write the word that doesn’t belong.

1.

• cash
• leader
• invest

2. prize

• technology
• game
• show

3.

• empire
• lonely
• desert
• island

4.

• universe
• prize
• extra-terrestrial

5.

• leader
• empire
• desert island

B. Describe the photos. Use the words in the boxes in your description.

1. Scientists use technology like satellites to study the universe.

2. The man is stressed out because of work. He wishes that he were on a desert island. He wouldn't be lonely there.

3. The man participated in a game show on television, and won a very large size.

4. King Abdul Aziz Al Saud was a historical leader. He was responsible for the unification of Saudi Arabia.

C. Complete the story with the correct form of the verbs.

• If John (1) (not / be) weren't so lazy, he probably (2) (be) would be a better friend.
• More specifically, if his friends (3) (ask) asked him to help them with something, maybe he (4) (not / answer) wouldn't answer with an excuse.
• John has a truck, so I sometimes ask him to help me move big things to my apartment, but he never does.
• His favourite excuse is “If I (5) (not / have) didn't have a test tomorrow, I definitely (6) (help) would help you.”
• I (7) (believe) would believe him if he (8) (not / say) didn't say this while talking on his cell phone the whole time!

D. Complete the conversations. Use conditional sentences with if-clauses.

1. Nawal: Will you buy a new cell phone?
Laila: I don’t have the cash right now.
If I had the cash right now, I would buy a cell phone.

2. Kevin: Will Larry apply for the job at the library?
Shaun: No, he won’t. He doesn’t want a summer job.
If Larry wanted a summer job, he would apply for the job at the library.

3. Henry: Will Ahmed and Mahmoud go on vacation with us?
Roy: No, they can’t. Ahmed has an English test next Sunday.
If Ahmed didn't have an English test next Sunday, they'd go on vacation with us.

4. Jack: Your shirt is so old. You need to buy a new one.
Tom: No, I don’t. It doesn’t have any holes in it.
If my shirt had holes in it, I'd buy a new one.

5. Fred: Will you go to the baseball game with us?
Fadel: No. I don’t like baseball. But thanks for asking.
If I liked baseball, I'd go to the game with you.

E. Answer the questions. Use might or could.

1. What would you do if you could be the leader of your country?

If I could be the leader of my country, I'd work to improve the environment.

2. What would you do if you won a large cash prize on TV?

If I won a large cash prize on TV, I could travel to every country in the world.

3. What would you do if you lived on a desert island?

If I lived on a desert island, I could surf and swim all the time.

4. What would you do if you met an extra-terrestrial?

If I met an extra-terrestrial, I might ask about life on other planets.

5. What would you do if you had more time?

If I had more time, I could watch more TV.

6. What job would you do if you worked for a charity?

If I worked for a charity, I might build houses for homeless people.

7. What would you do if you found 5000 riyals on the street?

If I found 5000 riyals on the street, I might try to find who lost it.

8. What job would you do if you lived in a foreign country?

If I lived in a foreign country, I could teach English.

F. Read the sentences. Write what each person wishes.

1. Tommy: I have to pay the municipal fees on my house.

Tommy wishes that he didn't have to pay the municipal fees on his house.

2. Charles: I’m not good enough to play professional basketball.

Charles wishes that he was good enough to play professional basketball.

3. Kevin: My friend won’t listen to me.

Kevin wishes that his friend would listen to him.

4. David: I have to do homework every night.

David wishes he didn't have to do homework every night.

5. Joanna: I can’t see my parents this year.

Joanna wishes that she could see her parents this year.

6. Maria: There is so much traffic in the city.

Maria wishes that there wasn't so much traffic in the city.

G. Look at the pictures. Use the information in the pictures to complete the wishes of each person.

1. Hameed wishes the traffic wasn't so bad.
2. Khaled wishes it wasn't so noisy at the restaurant.
3. Jasem wishes he didn't have a lot of homework.
4. Faisal wishes he was 18.

5. Fatima wishes her computer wasn't so slow.
6. Nawal wishes it wasn't so hot today.
7. Aisha wishes there was something good on TV tonight.
8. Asmahan wishes she didn't have a fever.

H. READING

Circle the letter of the correct answer.

1. Who wished for comfort and riches? a
2. Who had to work day and night? a
3. Who could sit and enjoy a quiet evening? a
4. Who wished he could help? b
5. Who lost all his possessions? c
6. Who wished for a simpler life? c

J. Read the situations and write sentences with if-clauses.

2. Hanan has a very bad toothache, so she needs to see a dentist; though she hates the idea.

If she didn't have a toothache, she wouldn't need to see the dentist.

3. Asma does very well at school because she works hard and doesn’t miss classes.

Asma wouldn't do so well at school if she missed classes.

4. Adel really wants to go on a picnic with his friends but he has a test on Sunday, so he has to study over the weekend.

Adel would go to a picnic with his friends if he didn't have to study over the the weekend for his test.

5. They have a beautiful house in the country that they rarely go to because they need to work so hard.

They would go to their house in the country more often if they didn't need to work so hard.

6. You want to buy a laptop but there is a huge range of models, and you don’t know which to choose.

If there wasn't such a huge range of models, I would know what laptop to choose.

Κ. Look at the picture. Work in a group and think of different reasons to explain why he is so happy. Write sentences to describe what he wished for before he became happy. Start your sentences with If I … or I wish …

1. If I had some time off, I'd go on a trip.
2. If I had enough money, I'd invite my friend to come along.
3. I wish I had the time and the money to do it.
4. I wish my friend could accompany me.

M. Mark the nouns with C for count or N for noncount.

1. C shopper
2. C bargain
3. C price
4. C market
5. N livestock
6. N produce
7. C spice
8. C carpet
9. N jewellery
10. N fish

O. Complete the paragraph with a quantity expression: a/an, some, or many.

• Riyadh is (1.) a shopper’s dream, and boasts (2.) some of the world’s most beautiful modern shopping malls, with designer boutiques and brand names.
• There aren’t (3.) any bargains to be found in the upmarket malls, but if you head for the traditional soups in town, you’ll find many bargains there.
• Haraj is (4.) a second-hand market just east of the city.
• Al-Bat’ha District is home to (5.) many traditional markets.
• Whether you are looking for electronics and watches, jewellery, perfume, furniture, car accessories, bicycles, or food—they sell it all at low prices.

P. Read the conversation below and complete with a word or phrase from the box.

Interviewer: I’m from Teenage Express magazine. We’re doing a survey of teenage shopping (1.) habits. Do you mind answering a few questions?
Faisal: Not at all. What do you want to know?
Interviewer: Do you (2.) shop online?
Faisal: No, I never shop online.
Interviewer: Why not?
Faisal: I don’t trust the security features on the Internet.
Interviewer: What about your friends?
Faisal: Very few shops online or (3.) make payments via the computer.
Interviewer: And do you like to (4.) buy designer clothes?
Faisal: Not really. I like clothes that aren’t too (5.) expensive and that are comfortable.
Interviewer: And in general, what do you (6.) spend most of your money on?
Faisal: I spend my (7.) money mostly on food, video games, and… electronic stuff.